Dentist  Aleksandr  Melekhin,  DDS,  Ph.D.

The vicious, awful, merciless disease is ruthlessly damaging our teeth.  This relentless illness spares no one: neither children nor old men, nor women. The disease is affecting all ages. From the outset of the disease, the front teeth are affected. Visible to everyone, this dramatically changes a person’s appearance and his smile. The teeth become dull, smooth, and flat with loss of luster and without a distinct boundary line.  The yellowish dentin begins to be visible through the thinning layer of the enamel. If the process is progressing rapidly, the front teeth become more and more yellow or yellow-grey. Some try to fix teeth discoloration using whitening products. Typically, these attempts end unsuccessfully, and the disease most often gets worse. Frequently, the disease is accompanied by a special kind of toothache, dubbed hyperesthesia of the teeth (teeth hypersensitivity): sharp, sudden, short-lasting tooth pain that comes from being exposed to acid in response to routine thermal, chemical, osmotic, and tactile stimuli. Teeth hypersensitivity is one of the most painful chronic dental conditions of the teeth. In most cases, it ends up necessitating teeth crowns after root canal treatment. Without adequate control, the disease is progressing rapidly leading to disastrous consequences: the teeth are becoming thinner and shorter; the enamel and the dentin are wearing down due to upper-to-lower teeth contact; the spaces between the teeth are dramatically increasing, and the crowns of the natural teeth are completely disappearing. Obviously, end stage of the disease may require costly, lengthy, and invasive dental procedures: extractions, prosthetic works, implants, etc. 

How did the disease get its name? It should be noted that health experts have known about such disease of the teeth for more than 200 years. Studies reported similar damage to the teeth occurred because of rare industrial chemical acid hazards and stomach (gastric) acid reflux. However, most of these reports were isolated cases. This disease used to be called acid erosion. Acid erosion of the teeth, also known as tooth erosion or dental erosion, is the loss of tooth substance initiated by a chemical process that does not involve known bacterial action. By the end of the 20^th century, acid erosion was not observed as a large-scale outbreak. Beginning of the 21^st century was marked by the sharp increase in acid erosion incidences. Damage to the teeth by acids is extremely widespread in the United States, Great Britain, and other Western countries. Some data indicate that among preschool children acid erosion prevails up to 50%, in school-aged children can make up to 100% and as high as 80% in adults (ages 18 to 88). Without a doubt acid erosion and its damaging effects have been on the rise. Millions suffer from related severe complications: hypersensitivity, toothache and pulp inflammation. 

No doubt, we have an acid erosion epidemic: a picture of an emerging public health problem. However, a wide variety of global population is not familiar with the silent and destructive phenomenon called acid or dental erosion of the teeth. Therefore, it is very important to let people know about the danger hanging over them.  This, in fact, is the goal and the major idea of my book: people now need to recognize irreversible damage and prevent permanent and severe loss of the teeth structures due to acid erosion. The first purpose of the book is to explore and describe what normal, healthy teeth look like, how to evaluate damage to your teeth by acid erosion, and how an erosive tooth surface appears. The second implication of this book is to be familiar with acidic foods and drinks that promote dental or acid erosion. The main goal is to present the preventive detailed plan of actions against devastating acid erosion or considerably delay its advancement. 

The book contains a large number of detail dental instruction, recommendations, and brief summaries. This may allow to significantly advance the quality of care for your teeth. Much of the book is written based on the advanced trends of oral hygiene. We must not forget that dental diseases, which affect the teeth and the gums (tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis), are still the most common human illnesses. For example, 92% of American adults have tooth decay in their permanent teeth. And 80% adults have periodontal (gum) disease. 

This book is intended for a wide audience, especially for those who want to take control of their overall dental health. Therefore, the book is written in simple and accessible language, avoiding complicated medical and dental terminology as much as possible. The book will also be useful for dental students, assistants, and hygienists as they learn to manage patients with acid erosion. It contains the very large reference lists to modern dental scientific articles available online. Wishing you great success in keeping your teeth healthy, especially in the current conditions of the growing epidemic of acid erosion. 

Dentist Aleksandr Melekhin, DDS, Ph.D. 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why Our Teeth Are So Hard, Sparkling, And White? Chemistry 101

Chapter 2: Are Your Teeth Becoming Soft, Dull and Yellow?

Chapter 3: If You Know Your Enemies…

Chapter 4: The Teeth Enemy Rank #1: Sports Drink

Chapter 5: The Teeth Enemy Rank #2: Energy Drink

Chapter 6: The Teeth Enemy Rank #3: Carbonated Soft Drink

Chapter 7: The Teeth Enemy Rank #4: Juice Beverage

Chapter 8: The Teeth Enemy Rank #5: Alcoholic Beverage

Chapter 9: 15 Steps to Teeth Health and Acid Erosion Prevention

Chapter 10: Prevention Step 01: Quitting Acidic Beverages and Drinks

Chapter 11: Prevention Step 02: Diluting Acidic Beverages and Drinks

Chapter 12: Prevention Step 03: Replacing Acidic Beverages and Drinks

Chapter 13: Prevention Step 04: Avoiding Contact of Acidic Beverages and Drinks with Teeth

Chapter 14: Prevention Step 05: Neutralizing Acidic Beverages and Drinks in the Mouth

Chapter 15: Prevention Step 06: Saliva and Protecting the Teeth from Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 16: Prevention Step 07: Remineralization of Teeth with Calcium after Consuming Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 17: Prevention Step 08: Remineralization of Teeth with Phosphate after Consuming Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 18: Prevention Step 09: Remineralization of Teeth with Fluoride after Consuming Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 19: Prevention Step 10: Remineralization of Teeth with Xylitol after Consuming Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 20: Prevention Step 11: Reducing Teeth Hypersensitivity after Consuming Acidic Drinks and Beverages

Chapter 21: Prevention Step 12: Acid Erosion and Oral Hygiene

Chapter 22: Prevention Step 13: Oral Probiotics and New Approach to Manage Dental Health

Chapter 23: Prevention Step 14: Dental Bleaching, Oral Hygiene, and Acid Erosion

Chapter 24: Prevention Step 15: Mechanical Plaque Control and Acid Erosion

Chapter 25: Conclusions, References and Resources